Means for examining rapidly-moving objects



Dec. 15, 1925/ 1,566,124

R. H. ROGERS MEANS FOR E-XAMINING RAPIDLY MOVING OBJECTS Filed April 24, 1924 Inventor: Rob ert H.Ro g ers,

b 9 His ATlorn eg.

Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. ROGERS, OI ALPLAUS, NEW YORK, ABSIGNOB TO GENEBALILECTBIG G01 rm, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed April 24, 1924. Serial-Io. 708,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Roam H. Rooms, a citizen of the United States, residin at Alplaus, in the'county of Schenectady, tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Means for Examinin Rapi ly-Moving Objects, of which the fol owing is a specification. My inventlon relates to means for examining rapidly-moving objects, and has'for its object the provision of a simple, reliable,

and compactdevice whereby a critical examination can be made of a" rapidly moving obiect.

ore specifically my invention relates to means for examining an object moving at a speed which is so high that it is impossible to examine the object in the usual manner with any degree of exactness. My invention is particularly applicable in examiningobjects havinga rapid rotary motion such, for

'example,'as the teeth of a rapidly rotating arr It may also be used in observing obects havi-n rapid oscillatory motion, or any motion 'suc that the object passes in rapid succession through a given position.

In carrying out my invention, I provide in a compact unitary structure a source of light for illuminating the object, a dial pro- 30 vided with an a rture through which the object may be 0 rved, a motor for rotating the dual, and means for regulatin the -speed of the dial so that when the o ject passes through a 'ven position it can be observed through 1: e aperture.

For a more complete understanding of my.

invention reference should be had to the ac-' companying' drawing, the single figure of which is a pers ectlve view of means for examining rapi y moving objects embod ing my inventlon and showing also its app cation in observing the teet rotating gear.

Referring to .Fig. 1 of the drawing, in

of a rapidly carrying out my invention in one form I provide a suitable source of 1i ht 10, which 1s shown as comprising a'wel known form of electric flash light provided with an'elece' tric light bulb, 11 and a suitable reflector 12.

' Preferably the bulb 11 is energized through insulated conductors 13 from a suitable electric supply sourcehaving a greater capacity than the dry cells commonly used with flash l1ghts, such as a storage battery. The electric light bulb 11 may also be adapted to be ener ized from the usual lighting circuit. Secure to the handle or barrel. 14 on which the bulb 11 and reflector 12 are mounted is an electric motor 15,- preferably having a strong series characteristic, wh1ch is energized.throu h insulated conductors 16 from a suitable e ectric source of, supply. This motor may conveniently be secured to the handle 14 by means of a U-shaped strap 17 passing around the handle 14 and secured by screws 18 to a block 19 between which and the curved portion of the strap the handle 14 is securely held. The motor 15 is secured to the upper ends of the strap by means of screws 20 and as shown is secured to the strap so that its axis of rotation is-at an angle with the beam of light 21 emitted from the bulb 11. Preferably the axis of rotation of the motor intersects the beam of light a short distance from the light source.

A disc 23 made of opaque material, such as a metal, is rigidly secured to the shaft 24 of the motor. This disc is provided with two apertures 25 and 26 oppositely disposed near its periphery. On the stator 27 of the motor is mounted a semicircular shield 28,

made of a suitable opa ue material which ma be metal. This shield 28 isprovided wit an aperture 29. of substantially the same size as the apertures 25 and 26. To assure a clear unobstructed view through them, the various apertures in the shield 28 and disc 23 are placed a distance from the axis of rotation of the motor which is somewhat greater than the outside dimension of the motor stator with reference to the axis of'rotation.

For the purpose of regulating'the speed a brake screw 30 is provided. This screw is mounted in the block 19 and has its end suitably beveled and bearin against a (spring arm 31 which is secure at itslower of the disc 23 as it is driven by the motor,

end-to the block 19. Secured to the upper end of arm. 31 is a pad 31 of leather or' other suitable braking material which may be broughtdnto engagement with the disc 1 to exert varying degrees of pressure by adva'ncing or retracting the screw. In this manner an desired s eed of the disc may be obtainei, Obvious y any suitable means may be used for regulatin the s eed of the disc, for example, an a justab e rheostat may be provided in the circuit of the drivp in motor 15.'

using the device, as for instance in observing the teeth of a rapidly moving ar 32, the device is held by means of the The speed ofthe disc 23' is nowregulated by means of the brake screw 30 so that at the same instant that the tooth 33 reaches the position shown in the drawin either aperture 25 or aperture 26 is in rent of aperture 29 so that light reflected from the tooth is received by the observer. Any image," as is well known, is retained by the eye for an appreciable interval and before one image fades, the tooth 33 will again reach the osition shown in the drawing, after compibting a revolution, whereupon a second image is formed, 'the opposite aperture of the dial being atthat time in front or the aperture 29. j

A rapidsuccession of images of the gear tooth bein investigated are thus flashed to the eye 0 the observer so that the tooth has the ap arance of being stationary and can, theref di'e, be critically examined while in rapid motion. In case it is desired to observe another tooth, the device is moved until the line of sight 34 is directed on that tooth. This device also is a very sensitive means of observing any variation in speed. For example, if the speed of the gear 32 should vary even'slightly it will be manitested by an apparent slow rotary movement -of the tooth 33 in one direction or the other dependingon the direction of speed variation. Small variations in speed which may not be accurately measured or even perceived by-the usual tachometer can be readily ob served in this manner.

It will be observed that while-the gear wheel is making one com lete revolution in order to bring the toot 33 again into position to be examined, thedial23 makes amine the tooth o a gear moving a-haifrevolution so as to brin the opposite aperture mm position to a ow light reflected bqjhetooth to bereceived by the observer. 0 provide for wide speed ranges it is contemplated that various dials having. diflerent numbers of apertures may. be pro vided. For exam is, if it is desired to exatone half thespeedofthegearwthena alhavinga natedfrom sai source may ing ob ects comprisin single aperture will be used in the place of thedial 23. While if it is desired to examine a gear having twice the speed of gear 32 then a dial having four apertures equally spaced will be used. In this manner objects havserved with a motor having a moderate speed range.

ing wide variations in speed can be ob-".

In each case, of course, the accurate adjustment of the speed of the dial embodied in concrete form and as operating m a s ecific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departin from the spirit of my invention, the scope 0 which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What .I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United'States is:

1. A portable device for examining rapidly moving objects comprising the combma- -tion in a umta structure of a handle memher, a source of ight on said handle member,

a dial provided with awe erture, means-on said handle for rotating saididial, and means for regulating the speed of lsaid dial.

2. Apparatus for examining a. rapidly moving object passing periodically throug a givenv position comprising the combination in a unitary structure, of a handle member, a source of light on said handle member, a reflector therefor, a dial provided with an aperture throu h which an object illumimotor on said handle mem said dial, and means for regulating the spec of said dial so that said aperture is in a be'observed, a er for rotating given position when. said object .passes can be examined through said aperture,

' '3. Apparatus for examining'rapidly mov-' reflector for said source of light, a motor mounted on said handle member, a dial driven by said motor, said dial being provided with ancaperture through which an object illuminated from'said source may be observed, and means for regulating thespeed of saiddial so that light from said source Y is reflected by said object through said aperture when said aperture is in a definite position. 7

4. Apparatus for examining rapidly mov-' a handle member, a source of light onsald handle member, a

reflector for said source of light, an electric through a givenposition whereby said objectia motor mounted on said handle member, a source is reflected by said object throu%h dial driven by said motor, said dial being said aperture when said aperture isin a de provided with an a rture through which nite position. 10 an objeotilluminat from said source may In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 5 be observed, and a brake member cooperating my hand this 23rd day of April 1924.

' with said dial whereby the s d of said dial can be regulated so that t from said ROBERT H. ROGERS. 

